Another technique, which I've used with great success on modern browsers, is to have a hidden floating div with the 'please wait' message. Just before submitting the form, cause the div to display. It hangs around until the browser is ready to start painting the response.

It's an HTML/CSS/Javascript trick. Using CSS set the z-index of the div to make it float, give it an absolute position, and assign its display attribute to none. To make it appear, set the display to 'block'.

Further discussion of CSS should probably take place in the HTML/Javascript forum.

Doesn't a small javascript code can do that? u know just use simplest window.open() with some text and close it after the other servlet loads OR if you r too busy leave it as a pop-up( I know the latter is not good).